Considered one of the top threats to spoil the bid of a champion in her last three grade 1 appearances, Raging Sea will now find the target painted on her back by six rivals June 6 in the $500,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
That designation comes thanks to the success she had in those tough spots: defeating Idiomatic in the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) at Saratoga last summer before being runner-up to Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). Most recently, she turned the tables on the latter at Churchill Downs May 2 while winning the La Troienne Stakes (G1) by three-quarters of a length in her seasonal debut.
A homebred for Alpha Delta Stables, the six-time graded stakes-winning daughter of Curlin is the 5-2 favorite and the horse to beat with Flavien Prat in the saddle. However, one of her key competitors is her own Chad Brown-trained stablemate, Randomized.
Raging Sea typically races off the pace, which proved beneficial in the La Troienne as front-running Randomized did the dirty work and tussled with Thorpedo Anna early.
Video: Fasig-Tipton La Troienne S. (G1)
The Brown pair were both in this same spot one year ago with Klaravich Stables' Randomized carrying her speed every step of the 1 1/8-mile contest to victory while Raging Sea finished fourth.
One year removed, the attention is now more focused on her stablemate, perhaps allowing Randomized to sneak away on the lead from her far outside gate in her second start of the year. The clear pacesetter on paper, Randomized could offer more value at her 9-2 morning-line odds.
John Ropes' Dorth Vader is taking another shot against the Brown runners after her intended forward position was compromised entering the La Troienne's first turn as Randomized cut over to the rail. The George Weaver-trained daughter of Girvin still battled hard, settling for fourth just 1 1/2 lengths behind. Jockey John Velazquez will aim to get a better early trip from the same rail post position.
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher matches Brown with a pair of grade 1 winners. Candied earned her grade 1 success at 2 in the 2023 Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. Winless in graded company at 3, the Candy Ride filly still showed up at every asking with four grade 1 placings.
The second start of her 4-year-old season, a three-length triumph over Ogden Phipps Dazzling Move in the Allaire du Pont Distaff Stakes at Pimlico Race Course May 16, showed she's ready for another grade 1 challenge for owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Bobby Flay.
Meanwhile Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode Candied in her last three starts, will be replaced by Manny Franco as he retains the saddle on Whisper Hill Farm's Leslie's Rose. Winner of the Ashland Stakes (G1) last year, the Into Mischief filly returned from a 9 1/2-month layoff May 4 to finish third, beaten just a neck, in the Vagrancy Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.
A three-time grade 2 winner, Godolphin homebred Tarifa is still in search of her first top-level score to fulfill the early promise she showed that gained her morning-line favoritism in the 2024 Kentucky Oaks (G1). She was most recently runner-up in the April 18 Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) at Keeneland.
The winner of the Ogden Phipps will earn a free automatic berth to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 1 as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.
Saratoga Race Course, Friday, June 6, 2025, Race 9Entries: Ogden Phipps S. Presented by Ford (G1)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Dorth Vader (FL) John R. Velazquez 118 George Weaver 10/1 2 2Dazzling Move (ON) Jose L. Ortiz 120 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 15/1 3 3Leslie's Rose (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 124 Todd A. Pletcher 7/2 4 4Raging Sea (KY) Flavien Prat 124 Chad C. Brown 5/2 5 5Candied (KY) Manuel Franco 118 Todd A. Pletcher 3/1 6 6Tarifa (KY) Luis Saez 122 Brad H. Cox 9/2 7 7Randomized (KY) Joel Rosario 124 Chad C. Brown 9/2
